Fiberoptic nebulizer

Abstract

A nebulizer uses air or preferably oxygen to aerate and transport an anesthetic for providing topical anesthesia to the airway passages of a patient undergoing analysis or treatment by any of several medical instruments used to traverse the airway passages. The nebulizer is preferably applied in connection with fiberoptical diagnostic and therapeutic instruments, such as bronchoscopes, endoscopes and laryngoscopes, and many variations of these instruments. Other liquid, aerosol, and gaseous drugs may also be administered with the nebulizer.

1. A nebulizer for delivering a drug to a patient, comprising:
 a three-branched fitting having a first inlet, a second inlet, a primary outlet, and a secondary outlet comprising at least one orifice; 
 wherein the first inlet is configured for receiving a gas selected from the group consisting of air and oxygen, the second inlet is configured for receiving the drug, the respective first and second inlets being arranged such that said gas and drug are capable of mixing within a passageway of said fitting to form a nebulized flow for delivery through the primary outlet, and the secondary outlet is configured for flow control of the nebulizer. 
 
   
   
     2. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the second inlet is configured for receiving a drug selected from the group consisting of a liquid, an aerosol, and a gaseous drug. 
   
   
     3. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a syringe connected to the second inlet and tubing connected to at least one of the first inlet and the primary outlet. 
   
   
     4. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a first length of tubing having a first diameter connected to the first inlet and a second length of tubing having a second diameter connected to the first length of tubing and a gas source. 
   
   
     5. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a piece of tubing and an over-pressure relief, the piece of tubing connected to the first inlet, and the overpressure relief connected to the piece of tubing. 
   
   
     6. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the secondary outlet is equal to or less than a cross-sectional area of the primary outlet. 
   
   
     7. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary outlet is from about 1.0 mm to about 2.5 mm in diameter. 
   
   
     8. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary outlet is placed opposite the second inlet. 
   
   
     9. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary outlet is placed upstream of the second inlet. 
   
   
     10. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the fitting has a shape selected from the group consisting of a “T”, a “Y”, and a bent “T.” 
   
   
     11. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first inlet, the second inlet, and the primary outlet is a Luer connector. 
   
   
     12. A combination of the nebulizer of  claim 1 , a controller for controlling a flow of gas to the first inlet, a flowmeter in series with the controller, and tubing connecting the controller to the nebulizer. 
   
   
     13. A combination of the nebulizer of  claim 1  and an optical diagnostic or therapeutic instrument having an airway connected to the primary outlet of the nebulizer, the optical instrument selected from the group consisting of flexible fiberscopes, endoscopes, and laryngoscopes. 
   
   
     14. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the second inlet is configured for receiving a liquid drug. 
   
   
     15. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary outlet is configured and arranged relative to the first inlet, second inlet and primary outlet for enhancing flow through the nebulizer upon a blockage of said secondary outlet, and for reducing a flow through the nebulizer when said secondary outlet is unblocked. 
   
   
     16. The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary outlet comprises a plurality of orifices. 
   
   
     17. The nebulizer of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of orifices are arranged in a non-linear orientation.